Search under way for arsonist

Authorities said nine fires combined to make one large blaze.

PALM BAY, Fla. (AP) — Investigators searched Tuesday for one or more arsonists behind a string of stubborn wildfires that have destroyed or damaged about 100 homes on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Firefighters in Brevard County were trying for the third day to contain fires that have scorched about 3,800 acres, or 6 square miles, in Palm Bay and neighboring Malabar.

Though the high winds fueling the flames Monday had slowed significantly, officials worried about the flames spreading quickly in the dry conditions.

“We desperately need rain,” said Palm Bay Fire Marshal Mike Couture.

All 18 schools in Palm Bay were closed Tuesday. Smoke and the proximity of the flames have caused the intermittent closure of major highways in the area, including a 34-mile section of Interstate 95 south of the fires that was closed again midmorning Tuesday.

“Flames are coming onto the interstate,” Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller said.

The worst fires raged uncontrolled in Malabar, while officials said they had “a majority” of the Palm Bay fires contained.

Palm Bay police were working with the state fire marshal’s office and Brevard County Fire Rescue to investigate who set an estimated nine fires that spread into a larger, uncontrollable blaze.

“Some are caused by embers that are flying, but the locations of the fires indicated that these were initiated separately, which makes us firmly believe that an individual or individuals was involved in setting those,” Police Chief Bill Berger said.

Neighborhoods built into dense woods were surrounded by ashes, twisted limbs and charred tree trunks where the fires raged through.

Angel Pagan, a 35-year-old salesman, watched Tuesday as firefighters hosed down the smoldering woods surrounding his home. A night earlier, he neighbors used garden hoses and buckets of water to douse the flames. Pagan sent his wife and their young sons, ages 1 year old and 1 month old, to stay with a relative.

Across the street, a stucco home was charred and crumbling. On it was duct-taped a bright red note from the building inspector: Totaled.